CIRS Plans

The Cultural Institutions Retirement System, or CIRS, was organized in 1962 to provide retirement and life insurance benefits for eligible employees of employers who choose to participate in the benefit plans.

As an eligible employee, you have access to three plans: The Cultural Institutions Savings Plan (401k plan), The Cultural Institutions Group Life and Welfare Benefits Plan (Group Life Plan) and The Cultural Institutions Pension Plan.

All three Plans are portable. In other words, if you change jobs, your coverage will continue – as long as your new employer is a Participating Employer. You continue to be an eligible employee and accumulate service time.

Pension

The CIRS Pension Plan is designed to provide you with a fixed monthly pension benefit payable over your lifetime. Learn more …

Savings

The CIRS 401(k) Savings Plan is designed to help you supplement your retirement income. Learn more…

Group Life

The CIRS Group Life & Welfare Benefits Plan helps protect your family from the financial consequences of the loss of your income in the event of your death. Learn more…

Forms & FAQs

CIRS Plan Highlights

This fact sheet highlights the key points of your CIRS benefit plans. Please read this page carefully for an overview of all that the plans have to offer. Refer to the Summary Plan Description Booklets for a more detailed explanation of each Plan.

Pre-Retirement Workshops

Are you ready to retire? Make CIRS your next stop.

If you are planning on retiring within the next 6 months, you can register to attend a Pre-retirement Workshop at CIRS. Call CIRS at (212) 674 – 0101 to reserve a spot for an upcoming Pre-Retirement Workshop.

The Cultural Institutions Retirement System (CIRS)Proudly providing retirement benefits to employees of participating cultural institutions and child care centers for over 50 years.